SWA CLI - Deploying web app does not work

Question

SWA CLI - Deploying web app does not work

Nirmal Dhandapani 20

My issue is identical to the one posted here by James Pierce.

One minor difference is that my output folder is "dist".

I try to use the command

swa deploy --env "Production" -n arka-360-test2

but it does not get deployed. There are no errors either.

User's image

Node version: 20.19.0

Azure CLI Version: 2.71.0

Prabhavathi Manchala 2,480 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-04-11T18:01:39.2666667+00:00
Hi Nirmal Dhandapani,

It looks like you're deploying a Static Web App to Azure with the SWA CLI, but the deployment isn’t completing, even though there are no errors. The process starts fine, logging into Azure, setting up the project, and beginning the deployment. However, it stops after the Deploying project to Azure Static Web Apps... message and doesn’t finish, returning to the command prompt. This is the same issue from the link you shared, where deployment starts but doesn't finish.

The issue is probably with the SWA CLI version.

Before deploying, run swa build or follow your app’s build steps to make sure it’s built.

Update the SWA CLI to the latest version with the following command.

npm update -g @azure/static-web-apps-cli

If that doesn't resolve the issue, try uninstalling and reinstalling the SWA CLI.

npm uninstall -g @azure/static-web-apps-cli npm install -g @azure/static-web-apps-cli

Use the verbose flag to see more detailed logs and try the deployment with an explicit app location.

swa deploy --env "Production" --app-location dist -n arka-360-test2 --verbose

If the CLI continues to have issues, consider using the Azure Portal deployment option as an alternative.

Please refer to the documents below for guidance on deploying with the Static Web App CLI and swa deploy.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/static-web-apps/static-web-apps-cli-deploy#deploy-a-front-end-app-without-an-api

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/static-web-apps/static-web-apps-cli#swa-deploy
Nirmal Dhandapani 20 Reputation points

2025-04-11T19:22:38.0533333+00:00

Hi @Prabhavathi Manchala Tried all the steps you mentioned, but no luck.

After trying the verbose parameter with swa deploy --env "Production" --app-location dist -n arka-360-test2 --verbose, I got pretty much the same result.

If the CLI continues to have issues, consider using the Azure Portal deployment option as an alternative

Can you please explain what you meant by "Azure Portal deployment option"?
Prabhavathi Manchala 2,480 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-04-11T20:42:08.2366667+00:00
Hi Nirmal Dhandapani,

The Azure Portal deployment option means deploying your Static Web App directly through the Azure Portal's interface, instead of using the SWA CLI.

Below are the steps to follow for deploying via the Azure Portal.

Build your application locally to create the files in the dist folder.

Go to Azure Portal -> search for your Static Web App ("arka-360-test2") -> click on it to open its resource page.

Go to the Deployment section in the left sidebar -> select Manual deployment -> click Upload or Browse -> choose your dist folder -> and click Upload or Deploy to start the deployment.

Monitor the deployment by checking for notifications and viewing the status in the Deployment history section.

Verify the deployment by going to the Overview tab and clicking the URL of your Static Web App to ensure it's working.
Nirmal Dhandapani 20 Reputation points

2025-04-11T20:53:46.1233333+00:00

Hi @Prabhavathi Manchala

Although my issue is resolved, I'm curious about this method of deployment. I do not see the "Deployment" section in the sidebar. Perhaps the SWA needs to be on "Standard" plan rather than the "Free" plan?
Prabhavathi Manchala 2,480 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-04-11T21:06:02.0633333+00:00

Hi Nirmal Dhandapani,

I'm glad to hear your issue has been resolved!
Nirmal Dhandapani 20 Reputation points

2025-04-11T21:25:28.8533333+00:00

@Prabhavathi Manchala Why are you editing your replies in such a way that your original message is almost completely lost?

Answer accepted by question author

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Your answer

Prabhavathi Manchala 2,480 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-04-11T18:01:39.2666667+00:00

Hi Nirmal Dhandapani,

It looks like you're deploying a Static Web App to Azure with the SWA CLI, but the deployment isn’t completing, even though there are no errors. The process starts fine, logging into Azure, setting up the project, and beginning the deployment. However, it stops after the Deploying project to Azure Static Web Apps... message and doesn’t finish, returning to the command prompt. This is the same issue from the link you shared, where deployment starts but doesn't finish.

The issue is probably with the SWA CLI version.

Before deploying, run swa build or follow your app’s build steps to make sure it’s built.

Update the SWA CLI to the latest version with the following command.

npm update -g @azure/static-web-apps-cli

If that doesn't resolve the issue, try uninstalling and reinstalling the SWA CLI.

npm uninstall -g @azure/static-web-apps-cli npm install -g @azure/static-web-apps-cli

Use the verbose flag to see more detailed logs and try the deployment with an explicit app location.

swa deploy --env "Production" --app-location dist -n arka-360-test2 --verbose

If the CLI continues to have issues, consider using the Azure Portal deployment option as an alternative.

Please refer to the documents below for guidance on deploying with the Static Web App CLI and swa deploy.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/static-web-apps/static-web-apps-cli-deploy#deploy-a-front-end-app-without-an-api

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/static-web-apps/static-web-apps-cli#swa-deploy
Nirmal Dhandapani 20 Reputation points

2025-04-11T19:22:38.0533333+00:00

Hi @Prabhavathi Manchala Tried all the steps you mentioned, but no luck.

After trying the verbose parameter with swa deploy --env "Production" --app-location dist -n arka-360-test2 --verbose, I got pretty much the same result.

If the CLI continues to have issues, consider using the Azure Portal deployment option as an alternative

Can you please explain what you meant by "Azure Portal deployment option"?
Prabhavathi Manchala 2,480 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-04-11T20:42:08.2366667+00:00

Hi Nirmal Dhandapani,

The Azure Portal deployment option means deploying your Static Web App directly through the Azure Portal's interface, instead of using the SWA CLI.

Below are the steps to follow for deploying via the Azure Portal.

Build your application locally to create the files in the dist folder.

Go to Azure Portal -> search for your Static Web App ("arka-360-test2") -> click on it to open its resource page.

Go to the Deployment section in the left sidebar -> select Manual deployment -> click Upload or Browse -> choose your dist folder -> and click Upload or Deploy to start the deployment.

Monitor the deployment by checking for notifications and viewing the status in the Deployment history section.

Verify the deployment by going to the Overview tab and clicking the URL of your Static Web App to ensure it's working.
Nirmal Dhandapani 20 Reputation points

2025-04-11T20:53:46.1233333+00:00

Hi @Prabhavathi Manchala

Although my issue is resolved, I'm curious about this method of deployment. I do not see the "Deployment" section in the sidebar. Perhaps the SWA needs to be on "Standard" plan rather than the "Free" plan?
Prabhavathi Manchala 2,480 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-04-11T21:06:02.0633333+00:00

Hi Nirmal Dhandapani,

I'm glad to hear your issue has been resolved!
Nirmal Dhandapani 20 Reputation points

2025-04-11T21:25:28.8533333+00:00

@Prabhavathi Manchala Why are you editing your replies in such a way that your original message is almost completely lost?

Answer 1

Hi Nirmal Dhandapani,

The deployment issue happened because the index.html file was missing from your dist folder, which is necessary for the app to run. The SWA CLI didn't show a specific error, as it expects the build process to be complete with all necessary files in the output folder.

Before deploying, ensure the index.html file is present in your build output dist folder.
Rebuild your app by running the build command npm run build to generate all necessary files, including index.html.
Please verify the dist folder to confirm that index.html and other required files (like JavaScript and CSS) are present before redeploying.
Once the files are confirmed, redeploy using the SWA CLI with the appropriate command.

swa deploy --env "Production" --app-location dist -n arka-360-test2 –verbose

Please accept as "Yes" if the answer provided is useful, so that you can help others in the community looking for remediation for similar issues.

Answer 2

Nirmal Dhandapani 20

Never mind, I asked ChatGPT for help and it helped me realise that the absence of index.html in the "dist" folder was the issue. It seems abnormal that the SWA CLI wouldn't throw an error for this requirement though.

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SWA CLI - Deploying web app does not work

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